Two American Companies and Two Chinese Companies Ordered to Shutdown in Xinjiang for Alleged Religious Infiltration

China Aid Association learned that Xinjiang government has ordered at least four companies to shutdown revoking their business licenses and visas for alleged religious infiltration among Xingjiang muslims.

American businessmen expelled and companies closed

According to an internal document obtained by China Aid, one Municipal Committee for Ethnic Religious Affairs (the specific location and names were omitted due to the ongoing legal trial inside China for this case) issued an "Notification and Confirmation Statement on the Illegal Religious Infiltration Activities by xxx" on September 10, 2007. The document said "through tips from the people and investigations conducted by this committee, it is confirmed that xxx, with xxx nationality, Passport No. xxx, has been engaging in religious infiltration activities in xxx area since 2000 in the name of doing business." This American businessman were accused of "preaching Christianity among people of Uyghur nationality, distributing religious propaganda materials, and converting people into Christians. His conduct has seriously violated the following laws, statutes, and related regulations..."

Along with other violations, the accused American businessman was said to have violated Article 2 of "Notice on Strengthening the Administration on Christianity and Catholicism" promulgated by United Front Work Department of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region that states: "One may not convert people of minority nationalities who believe in Islam and Lamaism. One may not convert people in border regions."

At the end of the document, the official secret investigation concluded that the accused American businessman's "conduct of illegal religious infiltration has seriously violated the laws and statutes of the People's Republic of China. We hereby notify him: "Immediately stop the illegal religious activities." Pursuant to the provisions in "Law of the People's Republic of China on Administration of the Entry and Exit of Aliens," xxx Municipal Public Security Bureau has rendered the penalty". The penalty has been carried out by revoking his Chinese visa ( click here to read the whole text).

Another similar case involved an American Christian businessman who has been doing business in Xinjinag for 16 years and he was ordered to leave China with his business license revoked by the end of September.

Two Chinese Christian owned companies shut down

Meanwhile two Chinese Christian owned companies in Xinjiang were also ordered to close. Luofu Branch of Xinjiang Pacific Agricultural Resources Development Company, Ltd. received a notification on September 20, 2007 from the Bureau of Administration of Industry and Commerce of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region accusing that company "involving serious illegal conduct of illegally spreading Christianity, engaging in infiltration activities, and endangering the security of the state, social, and political stability." Their license was revoked ( click here to read the whole text).

Another Christian owned company Xinjiang Jiaerhao Foodstuff Company Limited owned by a Muslim convert Mr. Alimujiang Yimiti was also ordered to shut down by Kashi Municipal Bureau for Ethnic Religious Affairs on September 13, 2007. In a " Confirmation Notification on Alimujiang Yimiti's Illegal Religious Infiltration Activities in Kashi," the Kashi Municipal Bureau for Ethnic Religious Affairs accused Mr. Alimujiang Yimiti "having been engaging in illegal religious infiltration activities in Kashi region in the name of doing company business and preached Christianity among people of Uyghur ethnicity. He distributed religious propaganda materials and converted people to Christianity. His conduct has seriously violated the following laws, statutes, and relevant stipulations..."

Reliable sources showed over 50 foreign Christian workers accused of being involved in illegal religious activities in Xinjiang have been expelled or deported in the past 6 months. Sources inside the Chinese government informed CAA that the Chinese government launched a massive expulsion campaign of foreign Christians, encoded Typhoon No. 5, in February 2007. This campaign is believed to be part of the "anti-infiltration" efforts to prevent foreign Christians from engaging in mission activities before the Beijing Olympics next year.

"To shut down legitimate businesses based on religious affiliation is another form of religious persecution in China," said Bob Fu, President of CAA. "It will shake the confidence of foreign investors to China in the long run."

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